James Mumford is a well-dressed 27-year-old from the posh London neighborhood of Pimlico. He holds degrees in philosophy from Oxford and Yale and, like many of Britain's elite, spent a post-graduate stint working in London's finance industry. But tonight he wants to talk about how he came to accept the Lord Jesus Christ into his heart. "I don't mind talking about my faith," he says, sheepishly. "But it's a touch embarrassing. Just don't brand me as a mindless evangelical."

That peculiarly British reticence may be one reason that an unexpected spiritual awakening among London's high society has gone unnoticed in recent years. Long considered an aggressively secular city, London has quietly become one of Britain's most Christian areas, going from the least observant region in Britain in 1979 to the second most observant today. Much of that resurgence in piety is the result of the city's expanding...

Yes I think you are absolutely right in your post. Having read a few critiques of the Alpha Course written by 'mindful evangelicals' I am convinced of the dangers of this sort of course, and this sort of evangelism. Personally I've met and tried to witness to folk who have 'done' the course, and it is hard to shift them away from a 'Christianity' built on 'doing your lessons and getting a pass mark' to genuine Christianity which is a rescue from sin an its consequences, by a mighty work of God through his Spirit in the preaching of the gospel.

The Holy Spirit weekend, which has to be included in the course by law, teaches the charismatic gifts and expects all who attend to be 'slain in the Spirit' and other bizarre pseudo spiritual events.

It's just going to fill up the New Age Churches in anticipation of the endtime apostasy, when those holding the truth will be a hated minority.

The Alpha Course is theologically problematic. It is a warm soft approach evangelism, focussing on 'the meaning of life?' and built around belonging. They use food, family and forgiveness. They are short on repentence, truly a very Anglican approach. Only time will tell if it produces true believers. Just the numbers at Holy Trinity, Brompton are an indication of a herd mentality, I wonder how many churches these seekers pass to attend HTB? London's young flock to seeker friendly, fashionable churches where they feel they belong, where they can identify with others like themselves, not other sinners seeking salvation but other people who look like them, dress like and sound like them. Hillsong in London's West End, Ruac in Brixton, KICC in Hackney, Steve Chalk's Church.co.uk in Kennington all fit this model and reach out to their own particular type of seeker. I have been to most, big hats, big cars or bean bags. what is missing is 'Truth and Spirit'!